I find it atrocious that we in St. Albert pay some of the highest property taxes in the entire country, and yet it seems that we receive nothing in return. Things have gotten far worse in recent years, with continuously escalating property taxes, and fewer services each and every year. First, the city reduced waste collection to a tiny bin that is only picked up bi-weekly. I hardly see how that was cause for an increase in taxes. Never once have I filled up my "organics" bin, because I simply don't use that many organics. I don't know what city council and the mayor were thinking when they decided that this was a good idea, although I can imagine that it was similar to their thinking when planning photo radar locations and speed limits (money, money, money).

The bone I have to pick right now is with the absolutely atrocious snow removal service in this city. I am writing this letter on Nov. 14, 2012, exactly one week to the day of the massive snowfall on Nov. 7. This morning, when I left my house to run errands, my car got stuck on my snow-covered Lacombe Park street. Last night, my car got stuck. Yesterday morning, my car got stuck. Do you get the picture yet? Sorry, Mr. Crouse, but not everybody can afford to go and blow $35,000+ on a vehicle with four-wheel drive. There is absolutely no excuse for St. Albert streets to be still covered with snow that fell a week ago. Friends in Edmonton had their streets cleared the day after the snowfall, and they pay far less in property taxes. This afternoon, they finally "cleared" my street, and yet, my car is still getting stuck. There's at least three inches of soft snow left on the street, and I've seen a few other cars get stuck since they "cleared" our street.

Please, mayor, tell us: where are all of these "services" that you claim we're paying for? I certainly don't see them. You and your council have been unable to provide even the most essential of services, and I have a gut feeling that you'll be paying for this atrocious management when the municipal election comes next year. You definitely don't have my vote.

A St. Albert man has pleaded guilty to a deadly hit-and-run collision that killed one man and injured three others.

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